Gaming & Culture —

Doomed from the start: FMV and real actors

Command & Conquer 3 is using video clips of real actors for the cut-scenes in …

Ever since disc media became the standard of choice for gaming, we've been treated to many different kinds of streaming videos in our games. Whether it be the streaming geometrical backgrounds of Silpheed or the full-motion animated videos of Final Fantasy VIII, video has added an immersive dimension to games that were originally sprite only.

One particularly interesting usage of video in games involved a method of story-telling using real-life actors. The cut-scenes became miniature Hollywood-style films, sometimes featuring big-name actors. Though rarely used due to cost, these types of videos often add a level of personality to a game that wouldn't otherwise be possible. Of course, along with that personality went an assured level of hilarity: in the midst of a game, it's often hard to take the video seriously, as it almost always seems out of place.

I mention this because a new trailer for Command & Conquer 3 shows this very type of cut-scene for the cinematic portions of the game. Michael Ironside, Billy Dee Williams and Josh Holloway all appear in this latest trailer, and this is cause for celebration—and laughter. Previous Command & Conquer games have used this type of FMV, but these sequences were often cited as the downside of the franchise. Low production values, spotty acting and a general feeling of cheesiness accompanied each of the scenes. Looking at the history of FMV in games, it almost appears as though Command & Conquer 3 is doomed from the start to be criticized for this.

FMV with real actors originated on the PC in the form of interactive movie games. Typically, these games would involve a scripted story like that of a normal movie, but at certain points you would be able to manipulate the action. Dragon's Lair, though not acted, could be considered the first of this type of game. In terms of actual video, Mad Dog Macree was one of the first games to feature entirely-FMV based gameplay: a western shooter with real actors who would respond to input from a mouse or controller. These games continued to consoles when the CD format became the standard: Sewer Shark for the Mega-CD was one of the first console FMV games.

Eventually, FMV began to be integrated into normal games for story-telling purposes. Games like Wing Commander III and Command & Conquer used the actor-based FMV sequences to tell the story of the game. Oftentimes, though, the acting came off as cheesy and there was a severe disconnect between game and video which made the entire presentation awkward.

How the sequences in Command & Conquer 3 will turn out is anyone's guess. The trailer looks half decent, but when actually put into the gameplay environment, it's hard to envision the sequences melding cleanly with the gameplay. If the past is any indication, it's not going to be pretty. However, Ironside's prescence may just give the sequences the life they need to survive. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to watch Total Recall.